Means for retaining printing plates on carriers



Aug- 12, 19471 c. J. HUEBER f ,2,425,324

MEANS FOR RETAINING A PRINTING PLATE ON CARRIERS 1f I I I V f2s I /IZO 2cv L J 'i L@ Q J wlmi Ewhh il l. /SF W* W* )ianmll Ml W Maaagagagaaaggea @883g N;

/ 51 INVENTQR Aug. 12, 1947. C, J, HUEBER Y 2,425,324

MEANS FOR RETAINING A PRINTING PLATE ON CARRIERS Filed Jun'e 1, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 23 v 5,.- I INVENTOR P2 I BY @ar/ef ATTORNEKS I Patented Aug. 12, 1947 MEANS FOR RETAINING PRINTING PLATES N CARRIERS Carl J. Hueber, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Addressograph-Multig'raph Corporation,

Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation of v'Delaware Application June 1, 1945, Serial No. 596,991

4 claims. (C1. 10i- 3.69)

This invention relates to printing devices of the character that are sequentially fed through printing and like machines to have operations performed directly thereon or under control thereof and which are also sometimes known as printing and control devices.

Printing and like devices of the character to which this invention pertains ofttimes have an embossable plate releasably retained thereon, and among the objects of the present invention are to retain such a plate on the frame of a printing device in a novel manner, and related objects are to provide at least one depressible p0rtion adapted to cooperate with an edge of the plate in such a manner as to retain the plate on the frame of the printing device; and to so arrange said depressible portion that inadvertent depression thereof will be avoided, and also to arrange such a depressible portion that one printing device may be freely slid over the other without the printing devices catching one on the other, particularly in the region of depressible portions of the aforesaid character.

In those instances where data or like representations are to be afforded on a printing and control device of the character to which this invention pertains, it is advantageous to so arrange the device that the data representations may be expeditiously changed when so required,

and in the present instance this is realized by so arranging the device that data or like representations may be formed in a perforatable member releasably retained at a predetermined position on the frame 0f the device and objects related to the foregoing are to so arrange the frame of the device as to facilitate installation and removal of a perforatable member thereon; and to guide the perforatable member'into position on the frame of the device and retain such on the frame in a novel and effective manner.

Yet further objects of this invention are to form retaining devices on one face of the frame or the carrier of a printing device of the aforesaid character and to so arrange such retaining devices that these devices may overlie a marginal edge of a at member to be releasably retained on such face of the frame or carrier and to so relate such retaining devices one to the other as to insure proper guiding of a member to be retained thereby into association therewith; and to form embossures from the aforesaid frame or carrier adjacent to portions of the retaining devices so as to thereby afford additional guide means for a member to be slid into association with the retaining devices.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, .by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principle thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

' Fig. 1 is a plan view of a printing device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view looking in at the lower edge of the printing device as illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the rear face of the printing device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail View taken substantially on the line 4-4 on Fig. 1;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional detail views taken substantially and respectively on the lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional detail views taken substantially and respectively on the lines 'l--l and 8--8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line llll0 on Fig. 1 and drawn to a larger scale than that to which Fig. l is drawn;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view drawn to the same scale as Fig. 10 and taken substantially on the line lI-Il on Fig. 1 but in which view the plate retained on the frame or carrier as shown in Fig. 1 is omitted;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary front elevational view drawn to the same scale as Figs. 10 and 11 of the portion of the printing device illustrated in section in Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line l3|3 on Fig. 1.

- The printing device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 13, inclusive, embodies a frame or carrier F whichl is desirably fabricated of sheet metal or other sheet material in the manner disclosed, for example, in Berthelson Patent No. 2,070,573, patented February 16, 1937. It will be understood, however, that the frame so illustrated may be produced in other Ways Without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

An embossable printing plate P, a so-called index or control card C and a so-called selection card SC are detachably retained on the face of the frame F, and this plate and t-hese cards are desirably substantially rectangular in outline as is the frame F. The plate and cards are S ar-l ranged on the face of the frametnat the longer dimensions of the plate and cards extend in' substantially parallel relation with each other and with the longer dimension of the substantially rectangular frame. The printing platey P is mounted on the face of the frame along what may well be called the bottom or lower part of the frame and the selection card SC is mounted on the face of the frame along what may well-be called the top or upper part of the frame andthe index or control card C is mounted onthe face of the frame intermediate the plate P and the selection card SC. The plate P and the cards SC and C are releasably retained on the face of the frame by means to be described presently.

Spacing flanges SF are formed along the shorter edges of the frame F on the rear face thereof by foldingmarginal portions ofthe sheet materiali from which the frame is formed along what are to be the shorter edges of the frame so as to thereby afford rounded edges` 23 along the shorter edges of the fabricated frame, such" rounded edges being shown in section in Figs 4. and 1I. In forming the rounded edges 20, the marginalportions 2| and 22 adjacent such edge are arranged in spaced apart and parallelrelation whereby the portions 2| afford` parallel. panels on the face of the frame adjacent tothe shorter edges thereof. The material inward of the portion 22 is bent'into substantially V-shapedA formation to afford'converging walls 23 and 24, such walls converging at the apex of the V-shaped formation thereof in a rounded edge 25. The free marginal portion 26' of the material at the upper end of each wall 24' is formed to lie against therear face of the frame inwardly of each rounded edge The walls 23 and" 24 and the rounded edges 25 constitute. the spacing anges SF.

The inwardly disposed edges ofthe panels 2| terminate in substantially verticallyv disposed shoulders 211 whichl serve to connect ledges' 28 with the panels 2|. The ledges 28 terminate inv shoulders 29 which merge into panels 2 |"'on\the main body 30 of the frame F. As best shown in Fig. 4. the panels 2|" and the main body 30 lie in the 'same' plane as that in which the panels 2| are disposed. The shoulders 27 and 29 and` the ledge 28 define grooves G, the medial portions of which are respectively aligned with apices 25'ofv the underlying spacing flanges'- SF. Therefore, the api'cesv 25 of spacing flanges'SF on` the frame of a printing device of the aforesaid character disposed over the face of another such frame. may seat in the' grooves G of the underlying frame to thereby resist longitudinal displ'acementof the two printing devices relative to each other. When a plurality of printing devices are so arranged with the apices 25 on the spacing flanges SF of each printing. device' disposed in thegrooves G offthe underlying printing devices, the resulting stack of printing devices may be' expeditiously handled` with little likelihood'ofthere being longitudinal displacement of any ofthe printing devices in the stack thereof.

The blankfrom which a frame as F of the' above described character is formed includes sections that extend between the panels 2| along opposite longer edges of the frame and these sections of material are folded over onto the face of the frame to provide upper and lower beads UB and LB respectively along the upper and lower longer edges of the frame F. The bead LB includes a flange 3| which, as best shown in Fig. 10, is formed to lie in spaced apart but substantially' parallel. relation with' the face of the main body 30 whereby this bead affords a retention for the lower edge of the printing plate P. As best shown in Fig. 7, the upper bead UB ineludes a flange 32 which is formed to overlie the adjacent marginal portion of the face of the main body 30 in spaced relation therewith to therebyA afford a retention for the upper marginal portion of the card SC.

The printing plate P which is retained on the face of, the frame or carrier F is of the nature disclosed in the copending application of Carl J Hueber and William J. Hampton, Ser. No. 450,318, led July 9, 1942. This printing plate is substantially rectangular in outline and has reduced marginal portions along the longer edges thereof to thereby provide flanges Pl and P2. As best shown in Fig. 10, the flange P2 is disposed in the beadV LB to underlie the flange 3 whereby this portion of the plate and frame are held against face'to face separation. In order to retain the oppositeV marginal portion of the plate P against face to face separation with respect to the face of the frame 30, clips as 33 are struck from the main body 30 of the frame in spaced relation with the `bead LB. In the present form of the invention three such clips are aligned one with` the other in spaced apart relation longitudinally across the face of the frame and, as best shown intFig. 9, each such clip is formed by striking out a portion of the main body 3D to thereby define an upstanding shoulder'34, each clip 33Y being formed to lie in spaced apart but parallel relation with the face of the frame 30 and, as best shown in Fig. 10, being arranged to overlie the flange PI' on the plate P. The plate P is inserted into the bead LB and the clips 33 by having one of the shorter edges thereof passed over one or A the other of the panels 2| whereupon the flange P2 passes into the adjacent end of the bead LB, and thereafter the flange P| passes beneath the adjacent clip 33 and continued longitudinal movement of the plate P through the bead LB and relative to the clips 33 disposes the plate P on the face of the frame F substantially in the position shown in Fig. 1.

In order to prevent longitudinal displacement of a plate as P from a bead as LB and clips as 33, spring tongues as 'ST are formed from the material of the body 30, such spring tongues being dened by substantially U-shaped slots as 35 formed in the' body 30tohave the bights` thereof disposed inwardly of, but immediately adjacent to, the-shoulders .29, such bights desirably being elongated to include substantially straight portions as best shown in lFig. 12. The free marginal portion of each spring tongue ST is desirablyy bent upwardly to afford a panel 36 that lies substantially parallel withbut above the main body of theV spring tongue and which is connected thereto'by an inclined web 37. Stop lugs asA 38` are struck from the webs as 31 and the main body of the spring tongues T to extend inwardly from the panels 36 in parallel relation therewith as best shown in Figs. 11 and 12, there being two such stop lugs 33 in each spring tongue, and as best shown in Fig. 12, these stop lugs are desirably substantially equally spaced one from the other and from the adjacent edges of thespring tongue. When a plate as P has been properly disposed in the bead LB and clips 33 in the manner described hereinabove, the shorter edges thereof lie in position to engage the inner free edges of the stop lugs 38 which are, therefore, effective to prevent longitudinal displacement of the plate P from the bead 1B and clips 33.

When a plate as P is to be inserted into the bead as LB and the 'clips as 33, or when such a plate is to be removed from such bead and clips, the panel 36 on one or the other of the spring tongues is pressed downwardly to thereby clear the associated stop lugs 38 from the adjacent end of the plate P. To this end the parts 0f the marginal portions as 126 that underlie the panels as 36 are bent downwardly to provide pockets as 39 into which the panels as 36 may be depressed and desirably the pockets 39 are formed to neatly accommodate the adjacent panel 3-6 so that the lower wall of each such pocket affords a stop which limits the degree to which a spring tongue as ST may be depressed to thereby avoid such excessive bending of the spring tongues as ST as might detrimentally affect the same.

:Since the panels as 36 project above the front face of the main body 30 when the stop lugs 38 are disposed to cooperate with the adjacent end of a plate as P, it is desirable that inadvertent depression of these spring tongues be avoided, and it is also desirable that the side edges of the panels 36 be arranged so as not to catch a spacing flange as SF or other part of another printing device disposed above a particular printing device including panels as 36. To this end an embossure as 45 is formed in each panel 2 I along each side marginal portion of each panel 36, such embossures desirably embodying a substantially rounded configuration on the various exposed edges thereof and, as best shown in Fig. 11, one wall of each such embossure is formed to be a continuation of the shoulder 29. The upwardly disposed faces of the embossures 40 and adjacent panels 36 are so related one to the other that, when a plate as P is retained on the face of the frame F, the upwardly disposed face of the panel 36 lies substantially in or beneath the upwardly disposed faces of the adjacent embossures 46. Therefore, by reason of the rounded configuration of the marginal portions of the embossures 40, a spacing ange as SF or other part of another printing device moved over the face of a printing devi-ce including such embossures 40 will be caused to pass over the face of a panel as 36 adjacent such an embossure 40 without catching on the panel as 36.

As best shown in Figs. l and 8, an embossure 4I is formed at each side edge of each clip 33 to be aligned with the wall 34 of each such clip whereby the faces of embossures 4l and the walls 34 disposed toward-the bead UB afford a guide and abutment edge for the lower edge of a card as C upon and after insertion thereof onto the face of a frame as F. The marginal edge of a card as C that is rested against the guide and abutment edges thus afforded is held against face to face separation with respect to the frame yor carrier F by being disposed beneath each of a plurality of clips as 42 that are struck up from the material of the body 36 and which include vertical wall portions 43 corresponding to the vertical wall portions 34 of the clips 33, such vertical wall portions of the clips 42 being aligned with said wall portions 34 so that corresponding faces of such wall portions are aligned with the aforesaid guide and abutment edges afforded b the embossures 4| and wall portions 34.

A plurality of elongated embossures 44 are struck up from the main body 30 of the frame F in position to serve as guide and abutment elements for the edge of the -card opposite that disposed beneath the clips as 4'2 and at least one clip as 4-5 is struck up from the main body 30 between the panels 2|', such clip, when but one is afforded, being located substantially midway between the panels 2|. Each clip as 45 includes a portion disposed substantially parallel with the face of the main body 36 in spaced relation therewith. This portion of the clip 45 is arranged to extend toward the clips 42 and thereby overlies the marginal edge of the card as C opposite thatv underlying the clips 42. 'I'he clip 45, like the clips 42 and 43, includes a vertical wall portion like the wall portion 34, and one face of this wall portion is aligned with corresponding edges of the embossures 44 to thereby also serve as a guide and abutment edge for the edge of the card that is to be passed beneath the clip 45.

A card as C is held against longitudinal movement relative to clips as 42 and 45 by having opposite end portions thereof disposed beneath clips as 41, which, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, are struck up from the main body 36 inwardly of each of the shoulders 29 in position to extend in substantially equal amounts on opposite sides of the endmost of the embossures 44. Furthermore, as best shown in Fig. 4, each clip as 41 includes a vertical wall portion 48 that terminates in the portion of the clip 41 that is adapted to overlie the adjacent marginal end portion of a card as C and such portion of each clip as 41 is arranged in angular relation with the face of the body 30 so as to be inclined away from this face. When, for example, an index and control card as C is passed into the clips 42 and 45 from the right-hand edge of the frame or carrier F, as it is viewed in Fig. l, the leading edge thereof passes beneath the clip 41 at the left-hand end of the frame or carrier as it is viewed in Fig. 1. After such leading edge of the card as C has been disposed beneath the clip 41 at the left-hand end of the frame as viewed in Fig. 1, slight pressure is applied to the opposite marginal end of the card sufficient to slightly ilex the card so as to thereby enable this marginal end of the card to be passed beyond the clip 41 at the right-hand end of the frame as it is viewed in Fig. l, and thereafter when pressure suihcient to iiex the card is relieved, the marginal portion of the card springs back beneath the clip 41 to thereby be disposed therebelow. Such disposition of opposite ends of the card C beneath the inclined parts of the clips 41 is effective to prevent longitudinal movementk of the card as C in the clips 42 and 45.

By referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that vthe embossures 44 are arranged in spaced relation with the bead UB so as to thereby define an area into which the card as SC maybe slid. Furthermore, clips as 49 are struck up from the body 30 of the frame F, two of such clips being d-isposed between adjacent ends of the embossures 44, and another of such clips 49 being arranged adjacent the clip 45. As best shown in Fig. 6, the clips 49 include vertically disposed wall portions 50 which include a face that is disposed in alignment with .the faces of the embossures 44 disposed toward the bead UB, and such faces of the walls 50 and clips 48 serve as guide and abutment portions for the edge of the card SC that is adapted to be disposed beneath the clips 49.

7 As. in the instance of the card C, when the card SC is slid beneath the flange 32 of the bead UB and beneath the clips 49 as bybeing inserted from the right-hand edge of the frame as shown in Fig. 1, the leading edgeof the card SC passes beneath the portion of the clip 41 at the left-hand end of the frame as it is viewed in Fig. 1 that projectstoward the bead UB. After the leading end of the card SC has been disposed beneath this clip 41, slight pressure is applied to the opposite marginal end of the card SC to liex the same sufficiently to enable the marginal portion at the trailing end of the card SC to be moved pastl the clip 41 at the right-hand end of the frame as it is viewed in Fig, 1, and thereafter when such pressure is relieved this marginal end of the card passes beneath a portion of the clip 41 at the right-hand end of the frame as it is viewed in Fig. 1 -that projects toward the bead UB and thereupon the card SC is held against longitudinal movement in the bead UB and the clips 49.

In the present instance two rows f perforations 5| are formed in the main body 30 of the frame or carrier. F, the perforations 5I in each row thereof across the frame adjacent the bead UB being aligned one with the other,l and the respective perforations in each of such rows being aligned with a perforation in the other row. These perforations,in cooperation with the card SC, are utilized to impart particularity to printing devices of the character to which this invention pertains to enable classification thereof that maybe utilized in selection of the printing device during passage thereof through a printing or like machine.

By referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that suitable indicia such as numerals are printed on the face of the card as SC, such indicia being provided at each position of such. a card that will `be aligned with an'opening as 5l. Such indicia, therefore, facilitates the formation of a perforation 5|' at one or more selected positions in the card as SC in alignment with one or more of the perforations as 5I. Such perforations 5I' may expeditiously be formed in a card as SC by the use of ahand-carried perforating implement such as that disclosed, for example, in the application of Carl J. Hueber and Donald A. Stark, Ser. Nol. 525,712, filed March 9, 1944, now Patent No. 2,394,385, patented February 5, 1946, or that disclosed in the application of William J. Hampton, Ser, No. 569,771, led December 26, 1944, now Patent No. 2,394,377, patented February 5', 1946. Each such hand-carried perforating device includes a locating element that may be seated in a selected one of the perforations as 5I, and when such locating element has been so oriented, perforating device is operated to force the perforating element thereof through the card as SC, andr thereby aligned openings or perforations 5I and 5| are formed in the card as SC and the frame or carrier 5I respectively to thereby impart particularity to the printing device in accordance with whatever classification is to be imparted to the particular printing device.

Where separate cards as C and SC are provided, and it is desired to change the particularity or classification of a particular printing device, it is only necessary that the card as SC on the device be removed and another be substituted therefor so that new perforations may be formed in the newly inserted card as SC and thereby the classification of the particular printing device will be changed.

t Moreover, when a change is made in the type characters as T that are embossed on a printing plate as P, it is desirable that the card as C be removed so that another card as C may be substituted therefor, such substituted card to bear an impression from at least selected of the type characters as T embossed on the plate as P, and such removal and replacement may be readily accomplished with the construction hereinabove described.

Therefore, when resort is had to two cards as C and SC, one or the other of the cards may be changed independently of the other so that, therefore, a change in classification of the printing device may be effected without requiring that impressions from at least selected of the type characters as T be made on a new card. Furthermore, type characters as T in one printing plate as P may be changed, and in such instance one card as C may be removed and another may be substituted therefor to bear an impression from at least selected of the type characters as T embossed on the plate as P, and such change in the card as C may be made without changing the classification of the printing device.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. l, the control data may be represented by perforations 55 that are extended through the card C as well as the underlying portions of the carrier or frame F, and such data is in most cases arranged in columns disposed near the right-hand end of the control card C as shown in Fig. l. Such control datamay positionally represent numerical amounts or other information, and control data of this same character may be represented in the lower portions of the card CC of the embodiment shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings. In either instance, the removal and replacement of the card in which such data has been represented enables new data representations to be formed in the new card, and where such new data representations differ from those originally included in the frame, the new card serves to cover and render ineffective the perforations that were formed in the frame F in connection with the previously formed data representations.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention enables a printing device to be constructed in a simple and effective manner that is such that the spring clips that hold the printing plates in position are protected or shielded, and because of this the spring clips are protected against catching upon parts of other printing devices and inadvertent bending of the clip is thereby avoided.

The printing and control devices of the present invention are also of such a character that a substantially continuous guiding surface is afforded along each edge of the areas in which the control cards are to be inserted, and hence the mounting of such control cards on the printing devices is materially simplified. Such guiding means also contribute to the strength of the printing device.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a substantially rectangular printing device carrier formed from sheet material, means for releasably securing a relatively flat member in position along a marginal portion of said carrier and on a predetermined face thereof, said means including at least one retaining device struck upwardly from the sheet material of the carrier in position to cooperate with an edge of a relatively at member mounted on the carrier, and an embossure formed from the material of said carrier so as to project upwardly from said predetermined face thereof adjacent to said retaining device and in alignment therewith.

2. In a substantially rectangular printing device carrier formed from sheet material, means for releasably securing a printing plate in position along a marginal portion of said carrier and on a predetermined face thereof, said means including at least one plate retaining device struck upwardly from the sheet material of the carrier in position to cooperate with an edge of a printing plate mounted on the carrier, said retaining device including an upstanding portion disposed to be substantially normal to said face of the carrier, and an embossure formed from the material of said carrier so as to project upwardly from said predetermined face thereof adjacent to said upstanding portion of said retaining device and in alignment therewith. i

3. In a substantially rectangular printing device carrier formed from sheet material, a plurality of retaining devices struck up from one face of the carrier in spaced relation one with the other and aligned one with the other, at least one other retaining device struck up from said face of the carrier at a position spaced from said plurality of aligned retaining devices whereby a relatively at member may be slid onto the face of said carrier between the aligned retaining devices and said at least one other retaining device to be releasably secured on the face of the carrier by said retaining devices, embossures formed from the material of the carrier so as to project upwardly from said predetermined face thereof intermediate at least selected of the aligned retaining devices and in alignment with such retaining devices, and other embossures formed from the material of the carrier so as to project upwardly from said predetermined face thereof in alignment with said at least one other retaining device.

4. In a substantially rectangular printing device carrier formed from sheet material, means for releasably securing a printing plate in position along a marginal portion of the carrier and thereof, adjacent opposite edges of said spring tongue, and affording protecting surfaces operable to guide parts of other carriers or the like over the operating portion of said spring tongue and thereby prevent catching of such parts on said spring tongue.

CARL J. HUEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,208,681 Moore July 23, 1940 2,080,417 Gollwitzer May 18, 1937 1,831,363 Mohler Nov. 10, 1931 959,725 Duncan May 31, 1910 856,452 Duncan June 11, 1907 1,872,173 Paschali Aug. 16, 1932 2,073,628 Ellis Mar. 16, 1937 2,030,865 Gollwitzer Feb. 18, 1936 1,929,472 Berthelsen Oct. 10, 1933 1,550,259 Jackson Aug. 18, 1925 2,258,624 Richter Oct. 14, 1941 1,096,495 Duncan May 12, 1914 FOREIGN PATENTS l Number Country Date 139,468 Great Britain Apr, 8, 1920 

